CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


CanMHan  IratituM  for  Historical  IMicroraproductions  /  liutitut  Canadian  da  microfaproduction*  historiqiiaa 


1995 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  technique  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


G 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I     Covers  damaged  / 

' — '      Couverture  endommagje 

I     I     Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pellicula 

I     I      Cover  title  missing /Le  litre  de  couverture  manque 
I     I     Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  geographiques  en  couleur 

[2     Cokxired  Ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 

Encrs  de  couleur  (I.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

r^     Coloured  plates  and/or  illustratkms  / 
Planches  et/ou  illustiations  en  couleur 

I     I      Bound  with  other  material  / 

Relli  avec  d'autres  documents 

I     I      Only  edition  available  / 
I — I     Seule  edition  disponlble 

[7[  ^'9^'  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serr^e  peut 
causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de 
la  marge  interieure. 

I  I  Blank  leaves  added  during  restorattons  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming  /  II  se  peut  que  certaines 
pages  blancties  ajout^es  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texts,  mais,  kxsque  cela  itall 
possible,  oes  pages  n'ont  pas  et6  fllmtes. 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  examplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
6te  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  dbtails  de  cet  exem- 
piaire  qui  sont  peut-6tre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  nrrodifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modifications  dans  la  m6th- 
ode  normale  de  filmage  sont  indkiu6s  ci-dessous. 

I     I     Coloured  pages/ Pages  de  couleur 

I     I      Pages  damaged/ Pages  endommagies 

I     I      Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur«es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

r^     Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
' — '      Pages  dto)tor«es,  tachet^es  ou  pk)utes 

I     I      Pages  detached  /  Pages  detachees 

r^     Showthrough  /  Transparence 

I     I      Quality  of  print  varies  / 

' — '     Quality  inegale  de  I'impression 

I     I      Includes  supplementary  material/ 

Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

I  I  Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
—  slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image  /  Les  pages 
totalement  ou  paniellement  obscurcies  par  un 
feuillet  d'enata.  une  pelure,  etc.,  ont  et6  fllmSes 
a  nouveau  de  lafon  k  obtenir  la  meilleure 
image  possible. 

I  I  Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discolourations  are  filmed  twtee  to  ensure  the 
best  possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant 
ayant  des  colorations  variables  ou  des  dteol- 
oratkins  sont  filmtes  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la 
meilleur  Image  possible. 


D 


AddHxxial  comments  / 
Commentaires  supptementaires: 


This  ittm  it  fihnad  at  th*  raduetion  ratio  dMckid  btkiw/ 

Ct  docuiiMfit  ast  film*  au  taux  de  raduction  indiqija  ci-dassow. 


10X 

14X 

tax 

ax 

HX 

30X 

/ 

■"" 

n 

12X 

t6X 

20X 

24X 

2SX 

^■^ 

' 

^'               ' 

32  X 

Tha  copy  fllmad  hara  haa  baan  raproduead  tltanks 
to  tha  ganareaitv  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 

Tha  imagat  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poMibIa  esnaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  liaaping  with  tha 
filming  eonuact  apacificatiena. 


Original  eepiaa  in  printad  papar  cevara  ara  fllmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covaf  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
lion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
firtt  paga  with  a  printad  or  Illuatratad  impraa- 
aion.  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aaeh  microflcha 
ahall  contain  the  aymbol  -^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"!, or  tha  aymbol  V  (moaning  "END  I, 
whiehavar  appliaa. 

Maps,  plataa.  chani.  ate.  may  ba  filmad  at 
ditfarant  raduction  rotioa.  Thoaa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  aapoaura  ara  fllmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  eornor.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framaa  as 
raquirad.  Tha  fallowing  diagrams  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

4 

5 

L'Mamplairt  (Um*  tut  raproduil  grict  *  I* 
9in4ro*M  da: 

BUllothiqua  national*  du  Canada 


Lm  imagat  auivantat  ont  M  raproduitai  avac  la 
plua  grand  aein,  eompta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nanaia  da  I'aiiamplaira  tilma,  ai  an 
cenformiia  avac  laa  oondiiiena  du  eontrai  da 
fUmag*. 

Laa  aiiamplairaa  originau>  dont  la  eouvartura  an 
papiar  aat  imprimaa  aont  tilmaa  an  commandant 
par  I*  pramlar  plat  at  an  tarminant  aeit  par  la 
darniara  paga  qui  eomporta  una  amprainta 
d'Impraaaion  ou  d'illuattation,  toil  par  la  tacond 
plat,  aalon  la  eai.  Toua  laa  autraa  aumplairaa 
originaux  aont  filmaa  an  eommanfant  par  la 
pramMra  paga  qui  comport*  una  amprainta 
d'Impraaaion  eu  d'iUuatration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnidra  paga  qui  eomporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  aymbolaa  auiwant*  apparaitra  «ur  la 
darnidra  Imaga  da  ehaqua  microfieha.  lalon  la 
eaa:  la  avmbola  ^  aignifia  "A  SUIVRE ".  la 
aymbol*  ▼  aignifia  "FIN". 

l*a  eartaa.  plancha*.  ubiaaux.  ate.  pauvant  atra 
filmd*  d  daa  taux  da  rdduction  diftarani*. 
Loraqua  la  documant  aat  trap  grand  pour  dtra 
raproduit  an  un  aaul  cliehd.  il  aat  film*  a  partir 
da  I'angla  aupdriaur  gaucria,  da  gaucha  d  droita. 
at  da  haul  an  baa,  at  .iranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  ndcaaaaira.  Ua  diagrammaa  auivanta 
illuauant  la  matheda. 


2 

3 

5 

6 

Mioocorr  resoiution  test  chart 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^  APPLIED  IIVMGE    Inc 

^^  1653  East  Main  Street 

Sg^a  Rochester.   New  Yark         14609       USA 

'■a^  (716)  482 -0300 -Phone 

^S  ('16)  268  -  5989  -  Fax 


7-' 


7o 


Jrom 


REDOXEN 
OFBONVAL 


BY 


^CharksGDR^erts 


it^/i 


r"    -V 


t^  Company 
Newibrk 


IjTsEiTIlJLJI 


Copyright,  igot. 
By  Small,  Maynaru  Jic  Company 


P  ^  g  a  OCPublished,  October,  igo8 


RED  OXEN  OF  BONVAL 


RED  OXEN  OF   BONVAL 


^O  it  is  merely  to 
these  good  beasts, 
then,"  said  Mad- 
emoiselle mock- 
ingly, "  that  I  owe  the  honor 
of  this  visit  from  the  much-occu- 
pied Captain  denning  I  And  I 
had  been  flattering  myself  1 
Mais — 'tis  ever  so  with  us  poor 
maids.  Monsieur  1  We  cannot 
be  permitted  to  cherish  our 
pretty  delusions, — .-.o,  not  even 
so  long  as  that  1 "  And  she 
gave  a  daring  little  snip  of  her 
little  brown  thumb  and  slim 
forefinger.  It  was  nothing  so 
pronounced  as  a  snap,  of  course ; 
yet  it  was  one  of  those  things 
which  only  the  right  woman  can 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

do  in  the  right  way,  and  which 
are  all  wrong  if  wrong  by  a 
hair's-breadth. 

*  As  she  spoke,  her  small  dark 
head  to  one  side,  she  gazed  at 
me  straight  in  the  eyes,  laugh- 
ingly, wickedly,  in  a  manner 
tl'.at  was  both  a  challenge  and 
an  inhibition.  It  was  indeed,  a 
dare  to  all  gallant  protestation  ; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  there  was 
something  which  forbade  that 
one  should  ever  dream  of  taking 
up  the  little  glove  so  recklessly 
thrown  down. 

This  had  ever  been  Jeanne 
c'e  Bonval's  way,  indeed,  dur- 
ing those  two  brief  weeks  of  the 
preceding  winter  which  she  had 
spent  in  Halifax,  with  half  of  the 
officers  of  the  garrison  sighing 
vainly  at  her  small,  disdainful 
feet.     Not  one  of  us  but  had 

8 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

been  held  always  at  tantalizing 
distance,  piqued  by  a  sweet  and 
dangerous  raillery.  If  there 
were  one  for  whom  her  wit  as- 
sumed less  keen  an  edge  than 
was  its  wont,  that  one,  I  thought, 
was  myself ;  and  I  was  not  alone 
in  this  suspicion.  Yet  never, 
even  with  the  courage  of  this 
thought  in  my  heart,  had  I  dared 
put  things  to  the  test,  lest  raw 
haste  should  bungle  my  hopes. 
Of  love  or  wooing,  or  of  aught 
more  intimate  than  the  cere- 
monious compliment,  I  had  suf- 
fered not  my  lips  to  say  one 
word,  waiting  till  that  aloof  and 
imperious  spirit  which  I  felt, 
rather  than  saw,  lurking  behind 
her  challenging  audacity,  should 
have  been  lulled  to  sleep. 

Now,    therefore,   when    she 
made    sport    of    the    business 


RED  OXEN   OF  BONVAL 

which  had  brought  me  to  her 
home  on  the  St.  Croix,  where 
:he  lived  a  remote  yet  busy  life 
with  her  widowed  and  ailing 
mother,  she  had  me,  as  of  old, 
at  her  mercy.  My  unready 
wits  and  my  most  unready 
French  held  me  silent,  as  of 
old  ;  but  I  took  heart  to  let  my 
eyes  speak,  with  a  plainness 
that  could  need  no  interpreter. 
For  just  an  instant  her  own  eyes 
softened  and  dropped,  while  a 
faint  rose  tinged  the  clear  brown 
of  her  cheek.  The  one  tiny 
foot,  in  its  moccasin  of  whitened 
deerskin  and  dyed  quill-work, 
tapped  the  floor  nervously,  and 
she  met  my  gaze  again  with  a 
look  that  carried  the  old  inhibi- 
tion with  full  force.  Evidently 
she  thought  I  was  going  to 
speak     too    boldly, — going  to 

lO 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

take  the  dare,  and  tell  the  truth 
which  she  knew  was  burning  on 
my  tongue, — for  she  spoke 
again  hastily,  yet  in  the  same 
mocking,  provocative  vein. 

•'  Oh,  no  truly,"  she  cried, 
shaking  her  head,  and  flashing 
her  white  teeth  between  her 
scarlet  lips,  "  I  would  not  that 
one  of  you  so  honest  English 
should  do  violence  to  his  hon- 
esty by  flattering  a  poor  country 
maid.  Yet  our  Frenchmen  say 
nice  things  to  us,  and  we  know 
they  do  not  mean  them,  and  we 
are  pleased  all  the  same.  They 
would  say  that  they  came  to  lay 
their  devoted  services  at  my  feet 
and  that  the  Governor's  business 
was  but  an  incident.  Is  it  not 
so.  Monsieur  >  But  you  would 
not  so  flatter  me.  Oh,  no ; 
though  you  must  know  that  I 

II 


RED   OXEN    OF    BONVAL 

have  no  one  here  to  make  me 
compliments,  except  my  dear, 
dear  mother,  who  is  nigh  blind 
and  cannot  see  me,  and  old 
Tamin,  my  overseer,  who  is 
equally  blind  because  he  loves 
me  so.  But,  never  mind," — 
she  went  on,  suddenly  changing 
her  tone,  and  speaking  with 
reminiscence  in  her  voice,  "  it 
is  pleasant  to  have  a  visitor  from 
Halifax  even  if  it  be  but  the  Gov- 
ernor's business  that  brings  him. 
Let  us  then  talk  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's business,  and  the  cattle." 

"  Indeed,  Mademoiselle,"  I 
began,  having  had  time  to  fashion 
my  phrases  in  the  unfamiliar 
tongue,  "duty  has  but  opened 
for  me  the  door  of  desire,  and 
now " 

"That  is  very  nice!"  she 
cried,  clapping  her  hands  and 

12 


RED   OXE.N   OF   BONVAL 

wickedly  interrupting.  "Now 
do  I  begin  to  believe  that  tiiert 
still  are  kings  and  courts  in  the 
wide,  far  world,  and  stately 
dames,  and  minuets,  and  patches. 
I  had  begun  to  fear  that  I  was, 
perhaps,  after  all,  the  peasant 
girl  you  seemed  to  think  me, 
(she,  with  the  blood  of  the  de  la 
Tours  and  the  de  Razillys  in  her 
veins!)  or  an  Indian  maid,  in 
these  moccasins."  And  she 
half  thrust  out  the  little  foot,  and 
quickly  drew  it  back  beneath  the 
white  homespun  petticoat. 
"  What  if  all  that  gay  life,  the 
lights,  and  the  glitter,  and  the 
music,  and  the  dancing,  and  the 
courtly  compliments  that  sound 
so  pretty  and  mean  so  little, 
were  just  a  dream,  Monsieur  1 
Soiiietimes  I  think  it  so,  here 
alone    on   the   farm,   with  just 


and  Tamin,  and  old  Annette  in 

1„H  i'     '"'  '"*^  '^^  ^"'^kens 
and  the  cows  to  talk  to." 

"  The  place  which  is  blessed 
by  your    presence,    Mademoi- 

selle,-the  life  which  has  you  to 
adorn  it.-that  place  and  that 
■fe,  in  court  or  in  country,  are 
the  best,"  I  answered  fervently, 
emboldened  by  the  seriousness 
of  her  concluding  words.     Then 
with  hasty  return  of  prudence  I 
changed  my  tone.     "The  fact 
's  I  only  reached  Fort  Piziquid 
th.s  very  noon.     Scanting  to  the 
"most  such  time  as  waf  need! 
ful  for  my  toilet,  I  took  a  fresh 
horse  and  rode  straight  hither, 
lam  sure  that  the  Governor, 
elf"^    '"  '"'P««i«nt  man  him^ 
self,    would   have   thought    my 
haste    much    keener  than  any 


RED   OXEN   OP   BONVAL 

urgency  in  my  business  might 
seem  to  call  for  I  " 

"Ah,  Monsieur,"  said  she, 
wit'i  affected  seriousness,  "be- 
lieve me,  you  do  not  know  what 
need  there  may  be  of  haste  in 
this  matter  of  the  cattle  which 
your  Governor  is  so  solicitous 
to  possess.  You  do  not  know 
what  peril  may  threaten  these 
good  beasts,  to  which  I  am  so 
indebted  for  the  pleasure  of  this 
visit  from  Captain  denning  1 
But,  Monsieur  must  excuse  me 
if  I  leave  him  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, while  I  go  to  tell  my 
mother  of  his  coming,  and  learn 
if  she  feels  strong  enough  this 
afternoon  to  see  him.  Then,  if 
it  please  you,  we  will  consider 
more  minutely  this  business  of 
the  Governor's  1 " 

As    she    moved    across    the 


IS 


r;h.te  cat  which  I  had  nof  be- 
fore observed  dropped  from  a 
shelf  and, routed  after  her  like. 

"7""'!'"»0"'%.iikeacrea- 
";e  of  the  woods,  with  a  mo- 

"ad  belonged  to  her  in  the  ball- 
-rns  of  Halifax.     She  flash  'd 
"Pon  me  one  radiant  yet  half 
floufng  glance,  and  disjppea^d 

'  j'°od  staring  after  her,  eyes 
«nd  heart  alike  filled  witkfhe 
delectable  vision. 

If  I  had  been  in  love  with 
Jeanne  de    Bonval   in  Hal,7ax 

Etc^^^Sed^r^^  ^""''"- 
patch  ,nT.   "^equirement  of 

£!^!lL!:lP^:r^f|;andprecisi^ 


RED  OXEN   OF  BONVAL 


of  ceremony,  I  was  tenfold  more 
in  love  with  her  now.  Beauti- 
ful indeed  had  she  seemed  to  me 
then,  above  all  other  women ; 
but  she  was  tenfold  more  beauti- 
ful now,  from  the  dainty  white- 
moccasined  feet  and  slender 
ankles  to  the  black,  rebellious 
waves  of  her  thick  hair,  whose 
strange  iridescences  of  bronze 
and  purple  should  never  have 
been  desecrated  by  powder,  un- 
less as  a  merciful  provision  that 
other  women  might  not  die  of 
envy.  One  curl,  not  over  long, 
came  down  beside  her  small, 
half-hidden  ear,  with  an  air  of 
having  escaped  the  pins  that 
should  have  held  it.  Her  face, 
tanned  to  the  clearest  and  most 
velvet  brown,  had  that  subtle 
modelling  which  only  genera- 
tions of  fine  breeding  can  con- 


I  I 

i   1 


1    il 


KHD  OXEW  OP  BOWVAL 

fer,-and  the  like  teal  of  her 
ancestors  was  to  be  discerned 
in  her  slim  fingers  with  their 
rosy  oral  nails.     But  the  resist- 
less enchantment  of  her  face  ap- 
peared to  dwell  in  her  eyes  and 
in  her  mouth.-^jyes  of  alternate 
I'ght  and  shadow,  mystery  and 
revelation,— mouth  upon  whose 
scarlet  curves  mirth  and  sadness 
came  and  went,  childishness  and 
womanliness  replaced  each  other 
at    a  thought.     She  wore  the 
short  skirt  of  homespun  linen 
most  in  use  among  the  country 
girls  of  Acadia,  but  undyed,  and 

bleached  to  a  creamy  whiteness, 
with  white  sleeves  puffed  at  the 
shoulders,  and  a  bodice  of  some 
soft  blue  stuff  marvelously  be- 
coming. And  my  whole  soul 
went  out  to  her,  kissing  the 
places  on  the  floor  where  the 
i8 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVa' 

little  moccasined  feet  had 
stepped.  It  is  permitted,  in- 
deed, for  the  soul  to  do  what  in 
the  body, — and  especially  a 
body  six  feet  tall  and  broad  in 
proportion, — might  look  ridicu- 
lous. But  was  it  not,  forsooth, 
almost  ridiculous  that  I  should 
stand  in  this  way  with  my  eyes 
glued  to  the  door  through  which 
My  Lady  had  disappeared  > 
"Would  this  fetch  her?"  1 
asked  myself,  with  a  half  laugh 
under  my  breath ;  and  I  turned 
to  speed  the  moments  by  gazing 
out  upon  the  fair  prospect  under 
the  window. 

A  fair  prospect  indeed  1  The 
old  manor  house  of  the  de 
Bonvals  was  on  the  sunward 
slope  of  the  uplands,  overlooking 
the  rich  dyke-meadows  of  the 
St.   Croix    stream.     On   either 


19 


RED   OXEN    OF    BONVAL 


!   ,   ! 


ill! 


side  were  apple-orchards,  hiding 
the  barns  ind  outbuildings ;  and 
one  tal'  lombardy  poplar, 
straight  and  stiff  as  a  church 
steeple,  stood  guard  at  each 
side  of  the  open  space  which 
led  up  to  the  front  door.  This 
open  space  was  a  garden,  given 
over  to  currant  bushes, — beds 
of  pinks  and  marigolds,  scarlet- 
lychnis  and  love-lies-bleeding, 
tangles  of  red  and  yellow  roses, 
and  thickets  of  tall  blue  lark- 
spur. Along  the  foot  of  the 
garden  a  hedge  of  lilac  shrubs ; 
then  the  road ;  then  the  wide 
dyke-lands,  level,  golden  green, 
and  dotted  with  small  red  cattle 
pasturing  on  the  aftermath. 
Beyond  the  winding  lines  of 
the  dyke  wound  the  river,  now 
placid  and  golden  at  full  tide, 
and  then,  at  the  other  side  of 


20 


RBD  OXEN  OF   BONVAL 

the  tawny  flood,  more  meadows, 
bordered  by  dark  green  hills  of 
spruce  and  fir.  A  strong  and 
sweet  landscape  this,  I  thought ; 
tranquil,  yet  not  tame,  and 
visited  by  change  twice  daily, 
when  the  huge  tides  emptying 
themselves  down  past  Piziquid 
and  forth  under  the  black  front 
of  <^'omidon,.left  bare  the  gaping 
channels  of  copper  red.  So 
lovely  a  scene,  and  one  set  so 
deep  in  her  love, — was  there 
any  hope  that  I  should  prevail 
with  her  to  leave  it  for  a  home 
in  the  raw  little  city  of  Halifax, 
yet  noisy  with  the  hammers  of 
the  builders?  Well,  I  was  re- 
solved,— and  here  I  renewed  my 
resolution, — that  upon  this  visit 
I  would  put  my  fate  to  the  test, 
if  Mademoiselle's  eyes  would 
but  for  an  instant  refrain  from 


21 


I'S!  li! 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

routing  my  courage  ;  and  I 
blessed  the  small  red  cattle  there 
at  their  pasturing,  that  they  had 
been  the  means  of  procuring  to 
me  this  long  craved  opportunity. 
For  all  her  raillery,  Mademoi- 
selle Jeanne  must  have  well 
known  how  tied  to  my  post  I 
was  at  Halifax,  how  sorely  I 
had  been  chafing  at  my  fetters, 
and  how  only  the  urgent  need 
of  provisions  for  the  garrison 
could  induce  the  Governor  to 
send  me  on  so  long  a  journey 
at  a  time  when  he  had  daily 
need  of  my  services. 

Noiseless,  as  I  have  said,  were 
her  feet,  like  a  moth's  wing  in 
the  twilight  of  the  honeysuckles ; 
but  I  felt  her  coming,  and  turned 
with  leaping  heart  to  find  her  at 
my  shoulder. 

"My  mother,"   said   she. 


22 


RED  OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

"begs  that  you  will  stay  and 
sup  with  us,  Monsieur." 

I  bowed  my  glad  assent,  but 
before  I  could  speak  she  went 
on  in  her  quick  way 

•*  And  we  have  now  just  time 
to  talk  of  this  business  of  the 
Governor's  upon  which  you  are 
so  zealous.  He  desires,  you  say, 
to  purchase  these  good  beasts  of 
mine  yonder,  for  the  garrison  ? '' 

"  Yes,  Mademoiselle  I  "  It 
was  better  I  thought  to  get  the 
business  done  with,  and  clean 
set  aside,  that  she  might  have 
one  weapon  the  less  wherewith 
to  put  me  off  from  weightier 
matters.  "  He  bids  me  convey 
to  you  his  profoundest  con- 
sideration, and  to  express  the 
hope  that  you  will  again  honor 
Halifax  with  your  presence  this 
coming  winter.     He    bids  me 

23 


REsD   OXEN    OF   BONVAL     v 

say,  also,  that  he  knows  how  to 
value  the  friendliness  of  a  de 
Bonval,  and  begs  that  you  will 
ask  him  a  price  something  higher 
than  the  best  that  you  could 
hope  to  obtain  elsewhere  1 " 

"  But  you,  Monsieur,"  she 
answered,  lookingat  me  gravely, 
"  you  must  surely  know  that  it 
is  not  possible  for  me  to  sell 
provision  to  your  garrison  1  " 

Here  it  was  again,  the  bar- 
rier that  confronted  us  at  every 
turn  when  dealing  with  the 
Acadians ;  and  it  moved  me 
deeply  to  find  that  even  Mad- 
emoiselle de  Bonval  was  not  an 
exception.  At  once  1  became 
the  eager  advocate  of  our  cause, 
identifying  it  with  my  own  pri- 
vate interest.  Her  refusal 
seemed  to  put  her  farther  off, 
out  of  my  reach,  behind  ambi- 

24 


S.ED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

tions,  sympathies,  purposes 
which  were  alien  and  remote. 
In  arguing  the  Governor's  case 
I  was  indeed  pleading  my  own. 
"  But,  Mademoiselle,  we  have 
hoped  so  much  from  your  friend- 
ship," I  urgea,  too  fervently  for 
a  mere  matter  of  fat  cattle. 
"  Everywhere,  the  Acadians  re- 
fuse to  sell  us  the  food  which 
we  have  a  right  to  purchase, 
offering  the  best  prices  for  what 
we  might  take  at  our  own  price  ; 
and  we  have  reason  to  know 
that  all  the  time,  in  spite  of  the 
law  against  it  and  the  risk  of 
severe  punishment,  they  are 
selling  these  same  things  which 
we  so  much  need  to  our  enemies 
at  Louisbourg,  and  for  a  paltry 
price.  But  you.  Mademoi- 
selle,— we  have  hoped  and  be- 
lieved that  you  were    one  of 

25 


RED  OXKN   OF   BONVAL 

ourselves,  and  would  set  these 
ponr  habitants  an  example.  Oh, 
surely  you  are  one  of  us,  are  you 
not,  Mademoiselle?" 

She  had  listened  with  gravity 
in  her  great  eyes,  but  now  the 
old  mockery  leaped  into  them, 
and  she  laughed,  with  her  head 
on  one  side. 

"  How  eloquent  you  can  be, 
Monsieur,  on  a  matter  of  busi- 
ness,— you  who  are  wont  to  be 
so  silent  when  I  would  hear 
pretty  speeches  1 " 

My  face  fell,  as  I  realized 
how  much  in  earnest  I  had 
been, — and  seemingly  on  a  mere 
question  of  fat  cattle  I  My 
heart  [grew  hot,  and  my  face 
grew  red  at  the  thought.  Then, 
of  a  sudden  I  understood  my 
own  fervor.  Looking  deep 
into  her  eyes  I  said  : 

26 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

ese 

"  It  was  because  I  was  jeal- 

)h, 

ous, — I  am  mad  with  jealousy, 

^ou 

if  you  have  interests  and  dreams 

which    I   cannot   share,  if  you 

rity 

have  any  part  in  life  that  sepa- 

the 

rates  you  from  my  love  ! "     And 

m, 

forgetting  all  about  Kings  and, 

;ad 

C.vernors,     and    garrisons,    I 

seized  her  hand  and  pressed  it 

be. 

fiercely  to  ray  lips. 

si- 

On  the  instant,  however,  and 

be 

before  my  lips  could  half  realize 

ear 

their  own  ecstasy,  the  little  hand 

was  dexterously  extricated.     A 

:ed 

slight  flush  crept  into  Mademoi- 

lad 

selle's  face,  and  her  eyes  fell. 

ere 

She  didn't  seem  offended;  but 

Vly 

there  was  the  faintest  tinge  of 

ice 

austerity  in  her  voice — the  old 

en, 

effective    inhibition, — as   she 

my 

said : 

ep 

"  I    can    honestly   commend 

your  zeal  to  the  Governor,  Mon- 

27 

RED   OXEN   OF    BONVAL 


li^  ! 


il 


I  it 

I 


sieur.  And  as  for  this  friend- 
ship of  mine,  which  you  would 
make  so  important  that  the 
Governor  should  give  heed  to 
it,  indeed,  Monsieur,  insignifi- 
cant as  it  is,  it  is  loyal.  I  am 
English  at  heart.  When  we 
de  Bonvals  swore  allegiance  to 
the  English  Throne  we  did  it 
with  our  hearts  as  well  as  with 
our  lips.  And  most  gladly, 
now,  would  I  meet  the  demand 
of  your  Governor.  But  surely 
you  must  understand  that  I 
cannot— because  /  dare  not  I " 

"Dare  not?"  I  cried,  with 
amazed  indignation  that  any  one 
should  have  power  to  coerce  or 
make  her  afraid. 

"  Can  you  keep  a  garrison 
here  at  Bonval.>"  she  asked. 
"Shall  I  show  my  loyalty  by 
letting  this  house  of  my  fathe-j 

28  ~ 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

be  burned  down,  over  the  head 
of  my  sick  mother?" 

I  was  thunderstruck.  I 
could  not  have  believed  that  any 
peril  was  imminent  to  her  from 
our  enemies;  here  on  the 
St.  Croix  within  five  miles  of  the 
Piziquid  fort.  Yet  I  knew  well 
enough  that  these  were  no  idle 
words  of  hers.  Her  sincerity 
was  above  question ;  and  she  was 
not  the  stuff  of  which  hysterical 
alarmists  are  fashioned.  But 
before  I  could  make  question 
of  the  danger  I  was  favored  by 
fortune  with  a  most  unexpected 
enlightening.  "  But,  Mademoi- 
selle " — I  was  beginning  to  stam- 
mer, when  old  Tamin,  her  factor, 
came  in  hastily,  following  upon 
his  knock  before  she  had  time 
to  biU  him  enter. 

"  Your  pardon,"  he  cried,  hat 

29 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


: 


fii   ■• 


m 


in  hand  and  bowing  low,  "  but 
Fatiier  La  Game  and  some  of 
his  red  flock  are  close  at  hand. 
It  were  well  that  Monsieur  the 
Englishman  were  hidden  at 
once.  I  have  buried  his  saddle 
in  the  hay  and  turned  his  horse 
out  to  pasture  1 " 

So  this  was  the  notorious 
partisan  priest,  La  Game,  con- 
demned by  his  church,  feared 
by  the  Acadians,  hated  Ly  us 
English  with  a  fiery  hate,  who 
came  now  so  inopportunely  to 
spoil  my  wooing  I  Hide  from 
him  and  his  crew?  My  bjood 
boiled,  as  I  laid  hands  on  the 
pistols  in  my  belt. 

"  Hide  from  those  vermin?" 
I  exclaimed.  Then  I  saw  that 
Mademoiselle's  face  had  gone 
white  to  the  lips;  and  I  hesi- 
tated.    "  You  must,  indeed  you 

3° 


RED  OXEN    OF   BONVAL 


must,"  she  cried,  seizing 
me  by  the  arm  and  trying 
to  lead  me  toward  a  small 
door  in  a  corner  of  the  room. 
"They  will  be  too  many. 
You  will  be  killed— and— 
scalped." 

I  felt|her  trembling.  But  I 
refused  to  obey  her. 

"I  have  my  weapons  1"  I 
protested  obstinately.  "  Would 
you  have  me  leave  you  unpro- 
tected ? " 

She  stopped  and  became  sud- 
denly calm. 

■'  I  am  in  no  danger, — unless 
frolh  your  presence  I "  she  said 
firmly.  "  Will  you  do  as  I 
wish  ?  Or  will  you  force  me  to 
see  you  murdered  before  my 
eyes  ? "    Then  her  c  Im  forsook 

her  again "Oh,  madness ! 

Are    you    mad?"    she    cried 

31 


RED  OXEN   OP   BONVAL 


wildly.     "  Don't  you  love  me? 
Come  I    Come  I  " 

"  I  love  you,"  said  I  quietly, 
following  her  to  the  door.  She 
opened  it.  I  stepped  into  the 
scented  darkness  of  a  closet, 
where  soft,  feminine  stuffs  hung 
on  pegs.  She  closed  the  door, 
and  I  heard  her  turn  the  key. 
What  did  I  care  whether  hiding 
was  dignified  or  not  ?  She  had 
shown  her  heart  in  that  swift 
and  desperate  moment,  and  I 
was  drunk  with  happiness.  Yes, 
indeed,  I  would  hide  as  stealthily 
as  a  wood-mouse,  if  she  wished 
it.  That  there  might  be("  no 
risk  of  noise  from  my  heavy 
boots,  I  lay  down  on  a  heap  of 
furs,  close  to  the  door, — and 
found  that  I  could  see  out  into  the 
room  through  a  crack  in  the  panel- 
ing just  on  a  level  with  my  eyes. 

3* 


RED  OXEN  OP   BONVAL 


Barely  had  I  disposed  myself 
so  as  best  to  use  this  advantage, 
when  I  heard  a  man's  voice, 
strong  and  hoarse,  at  the  other 
side  of  the  room,  and  then  the 
low  music  of  Mademoiselle 
Jeanne's  welcome.  But  they 
were  too  far  off  for  me  to  catch 
anything  that  was  said.  Pres- 
ently, however,  they  drew  nearer 
to  my  hiding-place,  and  their 
words  reached  my  ear  with  a 
distinctness  almost  startling.  I 
understood  this  to  be  a  piece  of 
My  Lady's  strategy,  that  I 
might  be  entertained,  and  in- 
formed, in  my  prison;  and  I 
blessed  her  for  it. 

"  I  am  advised,  my  Daugh- 
ter," La  Game's  harsh  voice 
was  saying,  "that  your  hus- 
bandry has  greatly  prospered 
this  year." 

33 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


III 


"The  saints,  have,  indeed, 
favored  me  far  beyond  my  r>oor 
deserts,"  answered  Mademoi- 
selle in  deferential  tones. 

"  You  have  grain  in  garner, 
beyond  your  necessities,  I  am 
told  ;  and  fatted  oxen,  ready  for 
market,  is  it  not  so } " 

"  My  barley  is  not  yet 
threshed.  Father,"  was  the  re- 
spectful reply.  (Scarce  did  I 
recognize  my  imperious  mistress 
in  this  attitude  of  strange  hu- 
mility.) "  And  I  have  ten  ar- 
pents  of  buckwheat  on  the  up- 
lands, not  yet  ripe  for  the  sickle. 
As  for  my  oxen,  they  are  what 
you  see  yonder  on  the  after- 
math,— not  large,  but  well 
nourished." 

"  It  is  touching  them  that  I 
would  speak  with  you,  my 
Daughter.     Beyond  admonish- 

34 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


ing  you  that  you  hold  faithful  to 
the  cause  of  France,  who  will 
yet  return  to  her  own,  and  rule 
once  more  over  all  this  land  of 
Acadia  now  groaning  under  the 
English  usurper, — beyond  ad- 
monishing you  thus,  which  is 
doubtless  unnecessary,  I  have 
no  time  for  the  civilities  of  my 
more  fortunate  and  more  courtly 
brethren.  Yet,  it  is  perhaps 
given  me  to  serve  the  cause  of 
France  in  no  common  manner !  " 
(Here  there  came  into  his  voice 
a  note  of  fanatical  zeal,  and  I 
felt  that  the  fellow,  however 
bloody,  was  sincere.)  "  Verily, 
my  Daughter,  these  weak  and 
self-seeking  people,  these  Acadi- 
ans,  had  long  ago  yielded  their 
heavy  necks  to  the  English  yoke, 
but  for  me  I  " 

"  I    have    observed,   indeed, 

35 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

Father,"  answered  Mademoi- 
selle, sweetly  humoring  this 
outburst,  "that  your  power  is 
very  great  among  our  people." 

"  Not  my  power,  my  Daugh- 
ter, not  mine,"  he  protested,  in 
<i  tone  somewhat  perfunctory, 
"  but  the  power  of  the  Cause  I 
serve.  But  enough  of  myself, 
and  more  of  my  business  here  1 
These  cattle  are  much  needed 
by  our  garrison  at  Louisbourg. 
I  will  buy  them  of  you,  at  a  fair 
price,  and  bring  or  send  you  the 
money  in  full  payment  within 
one  month  from  to-day." 

He  paused  for  a  reply,  but 
Mademoiselle  was  silent. 

"  You  will  have  the  beasts 
driven  up  to  the  ford  to-morrow, 
about  this  hour,"  he  continued, 
"and  there  I  will  give  your 
man  a  written  acknowledgment 

^6 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVVL 

of  receipt.  Why  do  ycu  rot 
reply,  my  Daughter  ? " 

I  noticed  that  a  sharpness  was 
creeping  into  his  voice. 

"  It  is  not  altogether  easy  to 
reply,  Father,"  answered  Mad- 
emoiselle very  gently.  "  You 
see,  there  are  several  points  that 
have  to  be  considered." 

"  For  instance  1 "  His  words 
were  curt  and  hard. 

"  Well,  Father,  for  one  thing 
the  English  are  very  anxious  to 
purchase  these  same " 

But  she  was  cut  short.  "  Let 
me  tell  you,  Jeanne  de  Bonval," 
he  interrupted,  a  sudden  cold 
fury  in  his  voice,  "though  the 
English  were  to  give  you  their 
weight  in  silver  for  the  beasts, 
you  would  find  it  a  costly  bar- 
gain. I  warn  you,  you  are 
under  suspicion  of  leaning  to 

37 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

these  usurpers.  I  know  of  your 
merrymakings  last  winter,  your 
ds.ncings  and  your  mummeries 
with  the  enemies  of  your  church 
and  your  king.  You  are  watched, 
girl.  If  you  let  the  flatteries  of 
vain  fools  mislead  you,  and  the 
greed  of  gold  tempt  you  to  sell 
support  to  the  foes  of  France 
and  God,  then — your  fate  be 
upon  your  own  head  1 " 

I  ground  my  teeth  with  rage, 
having  to  lie  silent  and  let  his 
insolence  go  unchastised.  But 
My  Lady  was  no  longer 
meek. 

"  You  presume  too  far  upon 
your  cloth,  Monsieur  La  Game," 
she  said,  and  I  could  see  that 
she  drew  up  her  small  figure 
right  haughtily.  "  And  I  must 
beg  you  to  remember  that  I  have 
not  expressed  any  intention  of 

38 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

trafficking  with  the  English.  As 
for  my  private  affairs  in  Halifax, 
they  are  a  matter  between  my- 
self and  my  own  Father  Con- 
fessor, the  Cur6  of  Piziquid, 
who  has,  I  believe,  the  respect 
of  his  brother  priests  and  the 
confidence  of  his  bishop." 

This  was  a  sharp  thrust,  and 
I  rubbed  my  hands  over  it.  It 
was  well  known  through  all 
Acadia  that  the  Bishop  of  Que- 
bec tolerated  La  Game  only 
under  urgent  persuasion  of  the 
Governor  of  New  France. 

"I  am  not  here  to  bandy 
words  with  a  woman,"  said 
La  Game.  "Nor  do  I  care 
to  resent  an  insolence  toward 
myself.  I  serve  France ;  and 
treason  toward  her  I  will  pun- 
ish. Do  you  send  these  cattle 
to  the  upper  ford   to-morrow  ? 

39 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

Or    do  you   sell   them   to   the 
English?" 

"I  was  going  on  to  say," 
replied  Mademoiselle  coldly, 
"  that  you  ask  what  would  mean 
our  ruin.  You  know  the  law, 
and  to  what  I  render  myself 
liable  if  I  am  detected  in  selling 
supplies  to  the  French  at  Louis- 
bourg } " 

Now  La  Game  was  a  true 
partisan.  He  promptly  forgot 
ail  personal  consideration  in  his 
zeal  to  secure  an  advantage  to 
his  cause. 

*'  There  need  be  no  difficulty," 
he  cried.  "  You  will  never  be 
suspected.  At  this  distance 
from  the  fort  there  is  no  danger 
of  your  being  seen,  none  what- 
ever.    You  are  too  timorous, 

or  your  heart  as  I  have  said,  is 
with  the  English.     But!  wish 
40  ~ 


RED   OXEN    OF    BONVAL 

you  no  harm,  if  you  obey.  I 
will  judge  you  by  your  worics, 
and  leave  your  motives  to  your 
own  conscience.  Send  the  cat- 
tle after  nightfall,  if  you  think 
that  safer.  I  will  wait  till  one 
hour  after  moonrise." 

"  I  will  not  so  compromise 
myself,  Monsieur  La  Game," 
she  answered.  "  If  it  is  so  safe, 
as  you  say,  then  send  your  own 
men  for  the  cattle,  at  the  first 
dark  and  take  them.  And  I 
will  send  my  man  Tamin  into 
Piziquid  in  the  afternoon,  that 
no  blame  or  suspicion  may  rest 
on  him.  The  English  are  very 
bitter  on  this  business  of  sup- 
plies going  to  Louisbourg,  and 
they  wait  to  make  a  conspicuous 
example  of  some  one !  " 

"  Well,"  assented  La  Game, 
somewhat  impatiently,  ' '  so  that 

4^- 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


I  get  the  beasts,  I  am  content. 
As  well  here  as  at  the  ford,  i/  it 
suits  you  the  better  so.  I  shall 
come  myself.     Good-night  I  " 

I  could  see  him  from  the 
girdled  waist  to  the  feet.  He 
turned  on  his  heel  and  strode 
toward  the  door. 

But,  boor  though  he  was, 
Mademoiselle  did  not  forget 
her  courtesy  toward  his  calling. 

"  I  pray  you.  Father,  stay 
and  rest,  and  sup  with  us  1 " 
she  said,  as  gently  as  if  this 
interview  had  been  all  sunshine. 

"  No,"  he  snapped.  "  I  have 
a  duty  to  perform  this  night  at 
the  Forks  of  Piziquid." 

•'  Is  it,  then,  as  urgent  ?"  she 
asked,  knowing  she  might  safely 
press,  he  being  obstinate. 

"  I  have  to  give  these  kabitants 
a  conspicuous  example,"  he  an- 

42 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

swered  grimly.  "  There  is  one 
fellow  over  there  who  holds  that 
the  English  are  the  true  lords  of 
Acadia,  and  entitled  to  his  al- 
legiance. He  has  been  selling 
barley  and  flax  to  the  Governor 
at  Halifax  1  " 

"Oh I"  cried  Mademoiselle, 
with  a  nicely  modulated  reproba- 
tion in  her  voice.  I  could  im- 
agine the  subtle  play  of  eyes  and 
mouth  that  accompanied  it. 
"  And  what  will  you  do  to  the 
poor  wretch?" 

"Before  the  rising  of  to- 
morrow's sun,  my  Daughter," 
answered  the  priest,  with  slow 
significance,  "  his  house  will  be 
ashes,  and  his  children  home- 
less,— but  not  fatherless,  I  trust, 
though  my  wild  red  flock  are 
sometimes  over  impetuous  in 
their  zeal,  and  apt  to  go  beyond 

43 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


my  exact  instructions.  Fare- 
well, Jeanne  de  Bonval ;  and 
that  you  may  fare  well,  remem- 
ber 1 " 

The  door  closed  smartly  be- 
hind him,  and  Mademoiselle 
stood  silent  for  a  long  time, 
watching  from  the  window  to  be 
sure  of  his  departure.  At  last 
she  gave  a  little  exclamation  of 
relief.  She  came  to  the  closet ; 
I  heard  the  key  turn  ;  the  door 
opened.  I  caught  the  hem  of 
her  skirt  and  pressed  it  to  my 
lips. 

She  drew  back  instantly  be- 
yond my  reach.  There  was 
that  in  her  small,  determined 
face  which  forbade  my  wooing. 
"  You  heard  what  he  said. 
Monsieur?"  she  asked. 

"  Every    word,     I    think," 
said  I. 


44 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 


"  And,  of  course,  that  is  suf- 
ficient answer  to  the  request  of 
your  Governor  1  You  will  ac- 
quit me  of  disloyalty,  I  think,  if 
my  good  beasts  find  their  way 
to  Louisbourg  instead  of  Hali- 
fax 1 " 

•'  I  will  answer  for  your  loy- 
alty with  my  life,  whatever 
happens,"  I  cried  fervently. 
Then,  with  a  violent  effort,  I 
remembered  my  duty  to  the 
Governor.  "  But — oh,  this 
business  I — why  cannot  I  come 
to-morrow  and  take  the  cattle 
by  force,  paying  you  after- 
ward?" 

She  laughed  as  if  she  really 
enjoyed  my  predicament. 

"  That  would  be  oppression, 
sheer  tyranny  I "  she  retorted. 
"  You  know  you  dare  not  do 
it, — because  you  dare  not  ex- 


45 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

plain  to  the  Acadians  1  It  would 
undo  the  forbearance  of  all  these 
yea.s,  and  drive  them  by  thou- 
sands back  into  the  arms  of 
France  I  Think  what  the  amia- 
ble La  Game  would  make  of 
it  I" 

"Biut  if  you  sell  them  to 
Loiiiibourg,  I  have  the  right  to 
connscate  them,  have  I  not? 
None  could  complain  of  that," 
I  persisted. 

"  And  how  are  you  supposed 
to  know?  And  after,  how  es- 
cape confiscating  all  my  pos- 
sessions? It  seems,  I  am  be- 
tween the  upper  and  the  nether 
millstone,  Monsieur,"  she  an- 
swered mockingly. 

"Stay,  I  have  a  plan,— one 
that  will  fully  protect  you,"  said 
I,  thinking  as  swiftly  and  lucidly 
as  I  could  with  those  bewilder- 

^46  ■ 


RED   OXEN    OF    BONVAL 

ing  eyes  searching  my  face. 
"  And  I  can  make  it  all  right 
with  the  Governor." 

Her  face  grew  grave ;  and  I 
realized  with  a  very  inward 
storm  of  love  and  wonder,  the 
weight  of  the  responsibilities 
which  this  lonely  girl  was  carry- 
ing under  so  brave  and  gay  a 
guise. 

"  You  appreciate  the  ruin  that 
hangs  over  us,  Monsieur-'"  she 
asked.  "  You  are  sure,  beyond 
a  doubt,  that  it  will  not  lay  us 
open  to  the  fate  you  know  of  ? " 

"  It  is  perfectly  safe,"  I  an- 
swered triumphantly.  "  Not  a 
soul  can  even  suspect  except 
the  Governor,  and  he  will  know 
all  about  it  I  Just  at  dark  to- 
morrow night,  was  it  not,  that 
scoundrel  said  he  would  come 
and  get  the  cattle  ? " 

47 


RED   OXBN   OF   BONVAL 

"Just  at  dark.  And  heTs^ 
man  of  his  word,"  she  added, 
significantly. 

"It  is  the  simplest  thing  in 
the  world,"  I  exclaimed.  "  But 
—perhaps  I  had  better  not  tell 
it  to  you  I  " 

"The  priest  must  not  be 
harmed,  Monsieur,"  she  said  in 
a  low  voice.  "And  he  must 
not  be  captured.  You  must 
not  touch  me  with  any  taint  of 
treachery  1 " 

"  You  can  trust  me  surely  for 
that  I  "  said  I.  "  Your  honor 
is  more  dear  to  me  than  life." 
And  then  it  came  over  me,  just 
how  deeply  and  fully  she  was 
trusting  me,— trusting  me 
blindly,  when  everything  she 
had,  and  her  mother's  life,  and 
her  own,  were  at  stake.  She 
must  have  seen  in  my  eyes  the 

^8 


RED   OXEN   OP   BONVAL 

irresistible  flood  of  love  and 
longing  that  surged  up  in  my 
heart,  for  she  took  two  or  three 
steps  toward  the  door. 

"  Oh,  Jeanne,"  I  cried  out, 
"  beloved  one,  you  know  how 
long  I  have  loved  you.  You 
know  how  I  worship  you.  Let 
me  protect  you.  Give  me  the 
right  to  protect  you,  to  protect 
and  care  for  your  mother,  to 
shelter  you  from  all  these  fears 
and  perils." 

But  she  was  merciless  I  She 
was  rightly  sure  of  me,  so, 
womanlike,  she  could  not  but 
play  with  me!  There  was  no 
severity,  but  the  old  mockery, 
in  her  eyes,  as  she  withdrew  to 
a  yet  safer  distance. 

"  But  why  should  I  need  pro- 
tection. Monsieur,"  she  asked, 
wilfully.     "  Have  you   not  as- 

49 


RED  OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

sured  me  that  your  plan  is  per- 
fect,— and  have  I  not  believed 
you?" 

I  was  at  her  side  before  she 
could  reach  the  door.    But 

"  Here  is  Annette  coming," 
she  exclaimed,  with  timely 
strategy,  "  to  tell  us  that  supper 
is  served  and  that  my  mother 
awaits  you  I "  And  she  laughed 
into  my  eyes,  with  daring  little 
face  upturned.  It  was,  indeed, 
an  inauspicious  moment  for  my 
wooing,— for  the  door  opened. 
I  could  have  killed  Annette, — 
yet  as  I  followed  My  Lady  to 
the  supper  room  I  was  not 
really  vexed  at  any  one  in  the 
whole  wide  world,  not  even  at 
La  Game. 

At  supper  and  after,  I  had  no 
word  more  alone  with  Mad- 
emoiselle.    I  devoted   myself 

50 


RED  OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

to  the  not  uncongenial  duty  of 
making  myself  persona  grata  to 
Madame  de  Bonval,  a  wizened 
little  invalid  who  leaned  like  a 
child  upon  her  daughter's  judg- 
ment in  all  things.  The  old  lady 
was  very  gracious  to  me, — but 
she  was  present,  and  obviously 
for  the  evening  ;  and  though  half 
blind,  she  was  very  far  from  deaf. 
When  I  could  not  in  decency 
prolong  my  stay  by  so  much  as 
another  minute,  I  made  my 
adieux, — and  My  Lady  met  my 
adoring  look  with  laughter  in 
the  green  deeps  of  her  eyes. 
Her  lips, — very  subtly  both 
allured  and  denied,  by  the 
smile  on  their  distracting 
curves ;  and  I  went  away  in  a 
madness  that  made  that  ride 
back  to  Piziquid  in  the  moon- 
light, beside  the  gleaming  cur- 

51 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 


rent  of  the  St.  Croix,  seem 
swifter  and  more  elusive  than 
music  heard  in  dreams. 

Being  arrived  at  the  fort,  on 
its  fair  green  hill  overlooking 
the  junction  of  the  Piziquid  and 
the  St.  Croix,  I  pulled  myself 
out  of  my  dreams  and  sought  an 
interview  with  the  Commandant. 
Armed  as  I  was  with  the  Gov- 
ernor's authority  to  levy  upon 
the  garrison  for  such  help  as  I 
should  need,  it  was  not  incum- 
bent upon  me  to  lay  bare  the 
whole  matter ;  but  I  told  the 
Commandant  enough  to  satisfy 
him,  and  he  entered  into  the 
business  with  right  good  will. 
Of  Mademoiselle's  very  delicate 
and  dangerous  part  in  it  I  told 
him  not  at  all.  Being  a  coarse- 
grained fellow,  his  attempted 
civilities  had  met  with  a  some- 


Sa 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAI. 

what  chilly  reception  at  the 
de  Bonval  manor ;  and  I  fancied 
that  he  was  not  ill-pleased  to 
think  that  the  matter  promised 
some  danger  to  the  haughty 
little  lady  who  had  so  effectually 
discouraged  him. 

Early  the  following  morning, 
when  the  tide  was  at  flood,  I 
took  twenty  men,  and  had  some 
fishermen  of  the  village  row  us 
over  to  the  east  shore  of  the 
St.  Croix.  This  made  it  toler- 
ably safe  that  none  should  guess 
our  destination.  I  marched 
them  up  the  river,  but  far  back 
from  the  valley,  out  of  sight  and 
ear-shot ;  and  we  lay  some  hours 
about  midday  in  the  thick  woods 
surrounding  the  Upper  Ford. 
In  the  afternoon  we  crossed  the 
stream,  and  moved  cautiously 
down  till  we  were  within  view 


53 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

of  the  manor-house,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  every  grove  and 
thicket,  and  crawling  on  our 
bellies  through  the  grass  when- 
ever obliged  to  cross  the  open. 
This  method  of  travel  was  most 
exceeding  irksome  to  my  men, 
a  fact  which  I  noted  with  satis- 
faction. I  had,  indeed,  been  at 
pains  to  choose  men  but  lately 
out  from  England,  men  not  yet 
experienced  in  the  subtleties  of 
border  warfare,  who  would  not 
think  the  matter  had  been 
bungled  if  there  chanced  to  be 
no  shooting.  I  was  resolved 
that  Mademoiselle  should  have 
nothing  on  her  conscience 
through  any  heedlessness  of 
mine ;  but  had  I  brought  with 
me  certain  border  veterans 
whom  I  had  noted  at  the  fort, — 
Indian  fighters,  Indian  haters, — 

54 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

I  should  have  been  hard  put  to 
it  to  keep  the  de  Bonval  thresh- 
old clean  of  blood. 

A  little  back  from  the  road, 
and  commanding  ?  clear  view  of 
all  approaches  to  the  manor- 
house,  there  was  a  thicket  of 
blackberry  canes  and  tangled 
clematis  in  the  centre  of  a  slop- 
ing buckwheat  field.  Into  the 
heart  of  this  thicket,  slowly, 
stealthily  as  lizards,  we  wormed 
our  way,  and,  at  length,  lay 
hidden  beyond  suspicion  of 
friend  or  foe. 

It  was  pleasant  waiting  in  the 
blackberry  thicket,  the  golden 
sun  of  late  summer  sifting 
through  the  leaves,  sweet  with 
wholesome  country  smells.  A 
few  late-flowering  weeds  amid 
ihe  tangle  drew  about  us  the 
music   of  foraging   bees.     The 

55 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


men  were  highly  content,  some 
dozing,    some    smoking,   some 
dreaming  of  far-oif  sweethearts. 
I  lay  and  peered  through  the 
stems,  looking  down  upon  the 
house  that  held  my  love.     I  saw 
old  Tamin  go  and  gather  all  the 
red  cattle,  from  end  to  end  of 
the    meadows.    Some    half 
score, — cows  and  young  heifers 
I  guessed, — he  drove  to  another 
pasture,  back  of  the  barns.    The 
rest  he  herded  into  a  small  en- 
closure near  the  house,  handy 
for    purchase    or    for    pillage. 
Then  he  bent  his  steps  toward 
Piziquid,  and   disappeared   be- 
yond the  furthest  winding  of  the 
way.     At  last,  just  before  sun- 
down,   my  eyes  were  greatly 
favored.     I  saw  My  Lady, — so 
slight  and  precious  a  figure  in 
her  little  cream-white  gown  and 

56  " 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 

blue  bodice, — come  forth  inio 
the  barnyard  with  a  basket  on 
her  arm  and  the  white  cat  fol- 
lowing at  her  skirt.  With  noisy 
cacklings  the  fowls  scurried  from 
every  side  to  throng  about  her. 
The  sounds  came  to  us  very 
clearly.  Four  white  doves,  also 
flew  down  from  a  gable,  circled, 
and  alighted  on  her  shoulders. 
She  threw  grain  in  handfuls 
among  the  fowls,  and  gave  some 
special  dainty  from  her  pocket 
to  the  doves,  who  crowded 
each  other  for  the  privilege  of 
getting  close  against  her  face. 
At  length  she  shook  out  the 
last  grains  from  the  basket,  and 
moved  slowly  back  to  the  house. 
As  she  neared  the  door  the 
doves  suddenly  flew  away,  and 
dropped  among  the  fowls  to  se- 
cure their  portion  of  the  grain. 

57 


RED   OXEN    OF    BONVAL 


As  the  dusk  began  to  gather, — 
first  TOSj  golden,  then  lilac,  then 
brown-purple,— I  set  watches 
at  each  corner  of  our  thicket. 
When  it  was  as  dark  as  it  was 
like  to  be, — the  sky  clear,  moon- 
rise  not  far  off,  and  no  mist  ob- 
scuring the  crisp  air,— the  sus- 
pense began  to  grow  keen. 

Presently  I  saw  a  line  of 
skulking  shadows  stealing  down 
the  road,  a  tall  straight  figure 
marching  fearlessly  at  their  head. 
As  they  neared  the  house  their 
leader,  — La  Game,  plain 
enough,— left  them  and  went 
up  to  the  door,  while  his  follow- 
ers glided  toward  the  enclosure 
holding  the  cattle.  Soon  there 
was  a  commotion  in  the  herd. 
Then  some  bars  were  let  down, 
clattering  sharply.  Then  the 
door  of  the  manor-house  closed 

58 


RED   OXEN    OF    BONVAL 


with  a  bang,  and  lights  appeared 
in  the  windows  of  the  big  re- 
ception-room. The  time  for 
action  had  come. 

"Remember,  men,"  said  I, 
"there's  to  be  no  shooting. 
In  the  dusk  some  innocent  folk 
of  the  household  might  be  hit. 
The  cold  steel's  the  medicine 
for  these  red  rascals.  Now, 
silence." 

The  men  were  delighted. 
They  knew  right  well  that 
marksmanship  especially  when 
the  target  was  a  drifting  shadow 
among  shadows,  was  not  their 
forte.  But  the  steel  they  could 
handle, — and  in  their  innocence 
thely  expected  to  get  close 
enough  to  an  Indian  to  try  its 
effect  upon  him ! 

Noiselessly  I  led  them  down 
to  the  road,  that  it  might  seem 

59 


RED  OXEN   OF  BONVAL 


to  La  Game  we  had  been  fol- 
lowing   on    his    trail.     As  we 
gained  it,  the  cattle  came  push- 
ing out  of  the  enclosure.    Still 
crouching  low,  and  stepping 
softly,  we  ran  along  the  soft 
grass  by  the  roadside,  and  I  be- 
gan to  fear  lest  we  should  actu- 
ally come  hand  to  hand  with  the 
savages,  so  busy  and  so  carele-s 
did  they  seem.    But  just  as  I  vai 
thinking  how  best  to  give  the 
alarm  there  was  a  flash  from  the 
lilac  hedge,  a  musket  shot  rang 
out,  and  a  ball  sang  low  over  my 
head.    That  was  all  right,  but  it 
would  not  do  to  wait  for  more 
such    messages.     "  Charge  1 " 
I  shouted,  and  we  bore  down 
upon  thci  at  full  run. 

But  the  gliding  figures  melted 
away  before  us .  N  o  more  shots 
were  fired.     No  one  stood  to 

■  60 


RED   OXEN    OP   BONVAL 

test  my  men's  cold  steel.  The 
men  were  amazed.  Then  a  pale 
light  began  to  spread  over  the 
landscape.     The 


over 
moon 


was 


rising. 

"  Post  sentries,  Cunliffe,"  I 
said  to  my  sergeant,  "  and  keep 
a  sharp  lookout.  You  never 
know  what  these  devils  are  up 
to  1 "  Then  with  an  orderly  at 
my  heels,  1  went  up  to  the  door 
of  the  manor-house  and  knocked 
imperatively.  The  door  was 
opened  promptly  by  Annette, 
who  was  doubtless  much  aston- 
ished when  I  pushed  past  her 
and  presented  myself  unan- 
nounced in  the  reception-room. 

Mademoiselle    stood    in   the 

middle   of  the    floor,   awaiting 

me.    How  beautiful  she  looked. 

Her  eyes  were  like  stars,  and 

the  old  mocking  smile  curved 
— 


i 


RED  OXEN  OF   BONVAL 


her  lips,— but  her  cheeks  were 
flushed,  and  behind  the  play  I 
felt  a  terrible  anxiety.  It  was 
hard  to  remember  my  part.  I 
longed  to  throw  myself  at  her 
feet.  But  I  held  my  head  high, 
and  eyed  her  austerely. 

"  You  are  welcome,  Mon- 
sieur," she  said,— and  at  the 
same  time  she  cast  a  meaning 
glance  at  the  door  of  the  closet 
which  yesterday  had  been  my 
hiding-place.  Instantly  I  real- 
ized that  La  Game  was  there. 
The  situation  was  absolutely 
theatrical,  and  for  one  brief 
second  my  thought  flashed  back 
to  London  nights  and  the  foot- 
lights of  Drury  Lane.  Then  I 
took  my  cue. 

"  I  fear  I  must  seem  uncivil, 
Mademoiselle  de  Bonval,"  said 
I,  bowing  low  but  ignoring  her 


;l  i 


RED  OXEN   OF  RONVAL 


outstretched  hand.     "  But  per- 
haps you  can  explain  1  " 

"What  do  you  mean,  Mon- 
sieur?" she  asked  in  surprise. 
'*  Is  it  not  rather  I  who  need 
an  explanation  ?  I  hear  muskets 
at  this  quiet  place, — and  English 
cheers, — and  a  great  trampling 
of  feet.  And  then  you  rush  in 
upon  me,  and  look — so  strange  I " 

"Mademoiselle,"  said  J 
firmly,  "  believe  me,  nothing  i: 
further  from  my  wish  than  that 
you  should  be  found  a  trespasser 
against  our  very  necessary  laws. 
But  the  case  looks  bad.  Yester- 
day you  refused  to  sell  me  your 
cattle,  which  are  much  needed 
by  our  soldiers  at  Halifax, 
though  I  offered  a  handsome 
price  for  them.  And  I  cannot 
say  your  reasons  quite  contented 
me.     To-night,  while  following 

63 


RED  OXEN    OF   BONVAL 


the  trail  of  some  of  those  pesti- 
lent savages  who,  under  that 
frocked  scoundrel  La  Game, 
make  so  much  trouble  for  us  in 
Acadia,  I  find  that  their  destina- 
tion is  the  manor-house  of  Bon- 
val.  I  catch  them  in  the  act  of 
driving  off,  openly,  the  very 
cattle  which  you  so  inexplicably 
refused  to  sell  to  me.  Of  course, 
I  understand  quite  well  that 
La  Game  and  his  red  minions 
are  but  the  tools  of  Louisbourg. 
You  know  the  penalty,  Mad- 
emoiselle, for  selling  supplies  to 
Louisbourg  ?" 

Such  words  to  her !  I  felt  as 
if  they  blistered  my  mouth. 
But  she  gave  me  a  swift  com- 
mending glance,  then  drew  her- 
self up  with  fine  scorn. 

"  And  so.  Monsieur,"  she 
exclaimed    witheringly,    "  you 


64 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

would  impeach  me  for  treason, 
because  I  am  robbed  of  my 
goods.  Because  the  Indians 
come  by  night  and  steal  my 
cattle,  you  would  confiscate  my 
estate,  and  exile  me  from  my 
native  land.  Is  this  English  jus- 
tice? If  so,  it  will  no  doubt 
commend  itself  to  the  people  of 
Acadia  1" 

'•  But  yesterday,"  I  replied, 
in  the  voice  of  a  judge,  "  these 
cattle  were  roaming  the  marshes. 
To-night  I  find  them  shut  up  in 
a  paddock  by  the  house,  most 
convenient  for  a  purchaser." 

"  As  for  that,  it  is  the  busi- 
ness of  my  overseer,"  she  an- 
swered carelessly.  "  How 
should  I  know  why  at  times  he 
leaves  them  loose,  and  at  times 
drives  them  at  night  into  the 
paddock.     Perhaps  he  is  going 

6s 


RED   OXEN   OP   BONVAL 

to  mark  them,  who  knows.  He 
is  to-night  at  Piziquid  ;  but 
when  he  returns  he  will  be  able 
to  satisfy  you." 

"  I  am  most  glad,  Mademoi- 
selle, that  you  have  a  defense  so 
plausible,"  said  I  gravely.  "  It 
is  not  for  me,  however,  to  say 
whether  the  Governor  will  hold 
it  sufficient,  or  not.  I  earnestly 
hope  he  may.  My  own  present 
duty  is  clear.  I  will  take  these 
cattle,  which  were  about  to  go 
to  our  enemies.  They  are  con- 
traband of  war,  fairly.  But  I 
will  give  you  a  receipt  for  them ; 
and  if  they  are  unlawfully  taken, 
without  doubt  you  will  be  more 
than  compensated  for  the  injury. 
The  Acadians  shall  have  no 
ciuse  to  complain  of  English 
justice ;  but  they  must  not  be 
allowed  to  think  that  English 

66 


RED   OXEN   OF   BONVAL 

forbearance  is  mere  childish 
credulity,  to  be  imposed  upon  at 
every  turn." 

To  my  surprise,  Mademoi- 
selle's tone  became  suddenly 
quite  gracious. 

"  I  owe  you  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude, Monsieur,"  she  cried  gaily, 
"  even  though  you  have  been  so 
rude  and  suspicious.  There  are 
paper  and  pens.  Please  write 
out  the  receipt."  And  she 
motioned  me  to  an  open 
escritoire. 

"Gratitude?"  I  asked.  "And 
for  what,  pray?"  Mindful  of 
her  anxiety,  I  kept  my  voice 
stern  and  unrelenting. 

"You  have  saved  my  cattle 
from  the  thieving  Indians,"  she 
exclaimed.  "  I  know  the  Gov- 
ernor will  compensate  me,  will 

pay  me  my  full  price  for  them, 
_ 


RED   OXEN    OF   BONVAL 


when  I  explain  the  circum- 
stances to  him." 

"You  are  sanguine,"  said  I, 
handing  her  the  paper.  "  I 
trust  you  may  not  be  disap- 
pointed. And  now,  I  have  the 
honor  to  wish  you  good-night, 
and  to  hope  that  I  have  not  in- 
commoded you  by  this  abrupt 
incursion  I " 

As  I  bent  low  over  her  hand 
I  turned  her  so  that  she  stood 
exactly  between  me  and  the 
cupboard  door,  where  I  knew 
that  a  pair  of  lynx  eyes  watched 
us  piercingly.  Then  I  pressed 
my  lips  passionately  to  the 
dngers,  and  whispered,  "To- 
morrow, my  love,  my  Heart,  I 
shall  come  again,  and  implore 
an  answer  of  thee." 

But  to  my  surprise  she  fol- 
lowed me  to  the  door,  and  into 

~     6S 


I  ill! 


RED   OXEN  OP   BONVAL 

the  hallway,  beyond  scope  of 
the  lynx  eyes  in  the  cupboard. 
I  saw  that  her  face  was  white 
now,  the  gaiety,  the  mockery, 
all  gone.  Her  lips  trembled 
like  a  child's.  I  would  have 
snatched  her  to  my  heart, — but 
Annette  stood  there,  watching 
me  with  disapproval,  waiting  to 
open  the  door. 

"Till  to-morrow,  then,"  I 
murmured,  again  lifting  her  hand 
to  my  lips.  But  this  time  her 
little  fingers  clung.  My  heart 
thrilled  and  leaped  wildly. 

"  Don't  go,"  she  panted,  al- 
most, with'a  sob.  "  I  am  afraid. 
After  you  go,  they  will  come 
back.  He  suspects.  He  sees 
through  it  all,— I  know  he  does. 
He  is  so  cunning.  Oh— I  think 
I  do  need  your  protection.  You 
max  protect— my  mother  !  " 

69 


RED  OXEN   OF   BONVAL 


And  she  lifted  her  face  to  me 
suddenly,  tears  were  in  her  eyes, 
but  a  smile  upon  her  mouth. 

••Belovedl"  said   I,  and 
gathered  her  to  my  heart.    "My 
Ladyt     My  Beautiful  Qwnl" 
And  as  I  kissed  her,  I  had  a 
vision  of  Annette,  silently  and 
discreetly  removing  herself  from 
the  scene.     A  moment  more  and 
My  Lady  untwined  my  arms, 
and  placed  them  ..rmly,  de- 
cisively, at  my  sides.     She  put 
both  her  hands  behind  my  neck, 
pulled  down  my  head,  and  kissed 
me  on  both  eyes.    Then  she 
sprang  back  beyond  my  reach, 
and  laughed  as  if  she  had  not  a 
care  in  the  world.     How  bright, 
indeed,  did  this  same  old  worn 
world  look  1     I  laughed  too,  in 
sheer  joy.    Then  I  thought  of 
the  prisoner  in  the  closet. 


RED  OXEN   OF   BOKVAL 

"  What  wilt  thou  do  with  him, 
My  Lady?"  I  whispered. 

She  came  back,  into  my  arms, 
that  she  might  the  more  con- 
veniently reply. 

"  I  will  get  him  away  safe  in 
the  night,"  she  whispered,  "  if 
you  will  remove  the  sentry  from 
the  kitchen  entrance."  I  nodded 
my  head.  "  But  first,  as  the 
price  of  his  freedom,  I  will  make 
him  swear  that  de  Bonval  shall 
not  be  harmed.  He  lays  so 
many  traps  for  others,  it  is  time 
he  felt  a  little  pinch  himself. 
And  he  will  keep  his  oath." 


71 


